Why My Friday Mornings Are Non-Negotiable

Friday mornings in the summer are mine. No clients, no meetings. They are blocked on my calendar. This is non-negotiable and has been for a decade.

My summer Friday mornings, on my stand up paddleboard on a nearby lake with a yoga instructor who I just love, are the best part of my week. There are other people, but the time is mine, and I’m focused on me and the presence I feel from this experience. I have been doing this since 2016 with Casey from Standup and Flow. I protect this time, and because I’ve planned my week, I am able to stay present and not worry about everything I need to do.

I paddle, I practice yoga, I notice the motion of the water, I work on both restorative and challenging poses, and I soak up the sights and sounds of the lake, one of my happiest places to be. Some days are harder than others, but I have learned to listen to my mind and my body. And often I learn something that applies to my business, too, which is the only time Workflows by Ronna slips into that Friday morning time slot.

My teacher shared a story about how she recently learned from one of her teachers, who she trained. She learned something so simple that would positively affect her students’ experiences on their board, and yet she had never thought of it!

What she learned involves her doing some prep work for her students before the class begins by positioning the anchor at the end of the board and attaching a lifejacket. Previously this was something each student had to do, and it involved wiggling around the board and maneuvering quite a bit. It took time and energy before the class could get started but was always part of the process. Did I mention my teacher owns the business and trained the other teachers? And yet… She learned something really valuable after many years and has adjusted her pre-class routine to everyone’s advantage.

When she shared the story, I realized immediately that it reinforced an insight I often teach: Sometimes there are better ways to do something that we might not even see because we’ve been doing it the same way for so long. Sometimes we need someone else to point out a better way.

When I work with my clients, I explore everything they do (or don't do). Often I'm able to make adjustments and improvements because I can see through the routine for ways to improve the effectiveness of processes and increase productivity, in a way that's sustainable.

Sometimes we don’t see things that are right in front of us, and I strive to help my clients by looking closely for those processes and tools that will work for them, their brains and their lives.

Just because we do things over and over for so long, doesn’t mean there isn’t a better way. That is, unless, we’re talking about how fiercely I protect my summer Fridays.

There is no better way to spend the morning!

- Ronna

FREE TIME WORTH TALKING ABOUT

What I’m Reading, Watching,

Turning Pages: Dolly All the Time and Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

In my 20s, I worked in TV production and lived in Los Angeles, so the premise of Nora Goes Off Script revolving around a screenwriter whose life changes a lot when a Hollywood actor stays in her home had great appeal. I read it a long time ago, but it launched my commitment to this author, so I read anything she publishes. Dolly All the Time just published, and it’s a great summer read!

On the Screen: Every Year After, a comedy drama on HBO Max

This show was adapted from a book I read a while ago called Every Summer After by Carley Fortune, and it takes place mostly in the summer at a lake house. I want to read or watch anything about a lake house because I love a lake!

In My Ears: Reflect on “Halfway Day,” Plus How Abstainers Can Moderate, Happier with Gretchen Rubin

I’m always a fan of Gretchen Rubin (her books, newsletter, podcasts!), and in this episode of her podcast she co-hosts with her sister, they encourage us to reflect on how to treat July 2nd as a built-in reset to reflect on what's working and what isn't. I love this reminder to evaluate habits, reflect on intentions (not goals!) and strategically adjust our approach to the rest of the year.

* Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

WHAT I’M THINKING ABOUT

Halfway Through the Year (And Three Years in Business)

I shared in January that I don’t set goals, but rather I set intentions. There is nuance there, but it’s motivating for me and makes it a journey more than a personal competition. I haven’t shared yet that I do have a fun tradition that encapsulates those intentions.

Each year since 2018, based on Gretchen Rubin’s Design Your Year tools, I make a list of things I’d like to accomplish. This year, 26 for 26. Next year 27, then 28, you get the idea.

Sure, that may sound like goals, but what I love about the list is that the items listed can be as mundane as “buy a new blazer” or as fun as “take a country line dancing class.” They can be for work, personal or family related, and the list is most often a combination of small and large intentions. And if I do them, great! If I don’t, I evaluate why and move on.

There’s one big item on my 26 for 26 list that I started to explore for Workflows by Ronna and decided not to do. More on that in the future because I learned a lot about myself and how I want to grow my business.

As I’m thinking about Gretchen Rubin’s Halfway Day advice (see above), I figured it was a good time to revisit my 26 for 26 and share. What’s most important for me is that you know that intentions don’t have to be deep or even aspirational, they can be something you want to easily get done and feel satisfied with that accomplishment.

The list is mine, and creating it is a big part of the fun. Oh, and I meet quarterly with a group of friends who make one, too. It’s accountability with no pressure, just a chance to connect, talk about what we’ve done or plan to do.

As I mentioned, we’re halfway through the year so I’ll be your coach here and suggest if you want to start a list of your own this year, consider your time, the seasons and what you can realistically accomplish. Because we know checking off those items will feel so good!

And also… If you know me or you’ve been around for a while, you know I love July a lot!

In the first half of this month, I celebrated my birthday and Workflows by Ronna’s birthday, too. I love that I celebrate them together because both give me pride and joy.

It’s been three years in business, connecting with so many of you, guiding many people to make work more efficient and helping many more people live their lives with more time for things that make them happy by teaching Notebooks with Ronna™ , my signature personal planning and task-management method. Building and growing this business has given me more than I ever could have imagined, and I’m incredibly grateful for all of your support. Truly. Thank you so much.

Are you ready to explore how to simplify your life, reduce stress and stay organized with customized time-management systems?

Fill out my contact form to set up a free 30-minute consultation.

A FEW MORE THINGS

Don’t miss next month’s Admin Hour on July 14th from 1-2:15pm CT!

This is a FREE, monthly Zoom session where anyone can join me to work for a dedicated hour. After an hour of quiet work time together you can hop off or spend 15 minutes with me while I host an “Ask Me Anything.” I will answer your most pressing productivity or time-management questions.

You’re welcome to attend once, every time, or whenever it works in your schedule. I will be there, holding myself accountable to getting tasks done and connecting with many of you.

Register for the August 11th Admin Hour here.

College-Bound To-Do List + Packing List

Also, I know many of you are receiving dorm assignments for your college students. I’ve now experienced a move-in and a move-out with my daughter, and we crushed them thanks to my College-Bound Task List.

If you want to be a parent with their $h!t together when you send your kid to college, you need this. And it’s free.

Grab my ultimate college-bound to-do list + packing list (with links!). You can share it with their roommate, and with any friends you have in the same college-bound era. When I moved my daughter into college last fall, this kept us calm, organized and confident.

My College-Bound Task List is a strategically curated list of tasks for getting a child ready for college. It’s a game changer because I did all of the thinking for you, and you can see your progress as you check things off.

Want my College-Bound Task List for free? It’s here. Download it, make a copy and have a smooth college move-in experience. Oh, and please tell me about it. I love hearing about people using my tools and processes.

Don’t miss my 2026 Facebook Workflow!

For those of you who are Chicago business owners, you just might be missing some of the best marketing opportunities out there!

Did you know that there are dozens of Facebook Groups that allow you to promote your business for free? And they have thousands of members in these groups for moms, female entrepreneurs, professional moms and more. I want to make sure you take advantage of these – I have a 2026 Facebook Workflow for you listing all the days that you can post! You can purchase it here.

July 2026